Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20
WHITE FLOWER.
Continued from .Sirth Page.

lease. L have consented, upon enc c0n1l-
ton, and for you she has accepted it. 1t
! is that you are to leave the state; and If
you must steal, why, steal from the Mex
icans, not from US, who have little but
lead and steel to give you. What do you
say-do you indorse her prOmise?"
"We do" they shouted, as with a
single voice.
every well-the guard will escor' you
| to camping place mile or two outside
of this plantation, where you will stay I'M
| til prepare some provisions for you and
restore your arms. And mark you, if one
of you ever dares to return here or even
within the borders of Texas, raises 8
hand against any man, woman or child to
rob or abuse in any shape
or manner, you shall hang, or
I'll eat frogs and turn tailor I!
Now you've heard me-I'm not much on
talk, but mean every word l say-and
never break promise to friend or foe.
now give you in charge of this lady and
hope the devil will all get you in due
! time!"
The Majors speech was received with
deafening cheers, and as their horses
were brought the rascally gang mounted,
and still under escort went out 10 the
place where they were to wait for their
arms.
CHAPTER Ii.
Lagona did not go back to the same
place in the Sierra Charrate to which Nc
! Cullough had first tracked him, but, send
| ing directions by a sub-chief for the en-
! tire village to move, he laid his course
away to the southwest, toward the Rio
| Grande, striking for the Wild Rose
! Pass of the Sierras Diabolos-or Devils
Hills, as they are not inaptiy named.
/ AL OF that stormy night, and during all OF
the next day, without halting moment,
! he and his tireless warriors kept on. But
they halted on the second night by a
water course, and rested until the next
/ day, giving their horses chance to re-
cruit. Lagona, who, as he had ever done
! before, still treated Stella with the most
chivalric respect, had a small tent,
made from blankets, raised especially
| for her, and he brought her the most
| delicate food to tempt her to. eat.
Berries and fruits, and birds, as well as
! buffalo meat and dried venison, were laid
before her; but in vain-she wept and
! sobbed, but would not eat. This troubled
the young chief greatly. He really and
| truly loved the poor girl-loved ner as
/
permit-and her grief went 10 his heart.
Had he not in his very soul believed that
! her destiny had been linked to his own by
the will of the Great Spirit, ne would not
have detained her, but would have taken
her back IN safety to those who mourned
! her absence.
| On the next day Lagona and his party
started early, and rode fast. Before night
they entered the Wild Rose Pass, named
not inaptly, for 1t was carpeted and lined
with flowers.
The sun was some three hours high
when they came TO an opening to the
east, which led into a valley, far more
| beautiful and all as fruitful, though not
! so difficult of access nor SO well guarded,
as the other, by the hand of the greatest
military engineer that eXists-dame
nature. Down through this valley
rushed many gurgling, musical riYulets,
winding up and twisting in silvery
| brightness through the loWland, or leap
ing from above in noisy and beautiful
cascades.
Had poor Stella been in 8 mood or
situation to admire anything, she could
not have felt other than pleased wonder
at the skill in house-building which the
red men now exhibited. Scarce two
| hours had passed since Lagons had seated
! her upon small, messy knoll beneath
an orange tree, before he bSde her rise
and led her to house in shape precisely
! like the mansion at La BOlsa de Flores,
! yet on q WUCh smaller scale. It's walls
were made of small poles and twisted
| vines, interspersed with flowers and
/ sWeet-sCented bushes and shrubs. It was
carpeted with orange and lemon leaves
and flowers, which with every pressure of
| the foot sent forth their perfumed breath.
The roof was tightly thatched with the
broad, green leaves of the palmetto Moss
and flower covered seats and lounges
were seen within, and in an inner alcOve
q couch spread with soft, bright furs met
the eye.
"This is the home OF the White
Flower" said Lagona gently, as he led
her to a seat.
Pale and utterly despairing, hopeless
and almost broken-hearted, she sat down,
but made no reply.
He now brought her food-small fishes,
fresh from the mountain streams, and
| broiled upon coals-fresh meat of the
antelope, delicate and tender-Venison,
bread and fruit. But her downcast eyes
were not raised to the food or him-she
would touch nothing, look at nothing, do
nothing, but weep silently and sign pite-
ously.
The stern warrior himself looke9sa
picture of wretchedness when he saRtbis,
for ne began to fear that death ddHm Ees-
cue her from his hands Whom he Was De-.
termined that no mortal free GOULD take.
=, And he Went q al from the beautiful
build ding, (which Had ffbeen baiIt expressly
tpr hsf, and for along time paced
houghtfhlly 10 andsfro between it and
Mshlng Iittas brook, all full of noisy
music, which ran within few yards
Hfs warriors were busy pitching their
camp, and preparing for the coming of
their wives and little ones; but Lagona
paid no heed to their movements-his sun
would not shine upon him-his heart was
in a cloud.
CHAPTER LII.
The Gree Rangers were encamped in
g small grove, about hsl-hour's ride
from La Bolsa de Flores, Ada McAlpin
having received permission for them to
remain there IN quiet, upon condition
that none of them left the camp, while
she went to Galveston to arrange some
business there.
To make them more obedient to this
condition, the Major had withheld their
arms and munitions, although they were
plentifully supplied with provisions, and
as they cannot, or rather will not, do
without whisky.
. Meantime all was excitement at the
plsntation, for Major Mccullough had
sent messengers in every direction
70 roth ~,